Most common 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Share of the 521 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022, 2024. Compare all years →
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls (7)
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026.
Air bags
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020.
Service brakes
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.
Show 1 more recall
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.
What 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 171 →
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking and jerking. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. In addition, the contact stated while driving uphill, the failure reoccurred. The contact was almost involved in a crash because the vehicle had failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled backward. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted the vehicle and the contact was able to get to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine and transmission failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact stated that the vehicle felt like the transmission was slipping. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting abnormally. Additionally, while the vehicle was stopped and idling with the brake pedal depressed, the RPM was fluctuating, and the vehicle was moving unintendedly. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer replaced the serpentine belt however, the failure persisted and became more persistent over time. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who retrieved a DTC code for engine failure. …
Engine & cooling all 111 →
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated he replaced the battery and was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was parked. The contact stated he was able to jumpstart and restart the vehicle however, as he was exiting the parking lot and making a right turn, the vehicle inadvertently stalled almost causing him to crash into a wall. Several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle however, the failure reoccurred while driving and he veered to the side of the road. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The radio, the headlights were engaging and disengaging independently. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. …
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking and jerking. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. In addition, the contact stated while driving uphill, the failure reoccurred. The contact was almost involved in a crash because the vehicle had failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled backward. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted the vehicle and the contact was able to get to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine and transmission failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Electrical system all 103 →
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated he replaced the battery and was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was parked. The contact stated he was able to jumpstart and restart the vehicle however, as he was exiting the parking lot and making a right turn, the vehicle inadvertently stalled almost causing him to crash into a wall. Several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle however, the failure reoccurred while driving and he veered to the side of the road. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The radio, the headlights were engaging and disengaging independently. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. …
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH and approaching a bend, the vehicle lost motive power and shuddered. The traction control and check engine warning lights were illuminated. There was smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle had previously lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that there was a possible electrical failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure was approximately 88,799.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl hybrid | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good car?
Based on 521 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Silverado 1500 rates avoid: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Silverado 1500 at the same age. It is one of the Silverado 1500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The transmission & drivetrain — 171 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › cooler/radiator › hoses and fittings. Next are the engine & cooling (111) and electrical system (103).
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the most recent from May 21, 2026 (air bags). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022 and 2024. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 38,000 miles; 65% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.